If you’re a member of Hulu Plus, you might be aware that The X-Files is now readily available based on countless commercials. But can you blame them for wanting to announce it every 15 minutes? The show was such a huge hit, and still maintains a very strong fanbase despite airing its last episode in 2002. (While there were a few movies, nothing is better than having a new adventure to watch each week – am I right?)

The show, created by Chris Carter, was on for 9 seasons and focused around FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully who both tried to debunk unsolved, paranormal cases. Besides the two films, there were comic books featuring our two heroes, as well as a spin-off that premiered in 2001 during a period of time when The X-Files was on hiatus, called The Lone Gunman. Unfortunately, ratings rapidly dropped for that show, and it was cancelled after 13 episodes.

What’s the cast up to today?

David Duchovny as Fox Mulder

Mulder was always a firm believer that aliens existed, and found out for sure when he was abducted in season 7. As for David, his future seemed a bit brighter after ending his role in this cult series. It must be noted that before he hit it big, he was actually at Yale for his doctoral studies. So, yes. That makes David smart, cute, and talented.

Since 1992, David has helped the erotic Red Shoe Diaries franchise by starring as the presenter and host, Jake Winters. In 2001, he snuck in a cameo by playing hand model J.P. Prewitt, in the film Zoolander. (“We think differently than the face and body boys… we’re a different breed.”)

David married actress Tea Leoni in 1997 and had two children – a daughter, Madelaine in 1999, and son Kyd in 2002.

In 2004 he starred alongside Nia Vardalos and Toni Collette in the comedy Connie and Carla. That same year, he wrote, directed, and starred in the film House of D, about an artist living in Paris. (The film also co-starred Leoni). That next year, he starred in the romantic comedy Trust The Man, before starring in the film The TV Set with Sigourney Weaver.

In 2008, news of David’s sex addiction hit tabloids. He was one of the first celebrities to admit such a thing existed, which made the news even more stunning. He voluntarily entered a treatment facility around the same time he separated from his wife. Despite a brief reconciliation it might not have helped his marriage, as he split with Leoni again in 2011.

Oddly enough, his most notable role since The X-Files hits on a few of these personal struggles. In 2007, David started playing the lead role of Hank Moody – a drinking, womanizing writer who has a hard time straightening out his relationships – on the show Californication. The show will be airing its final season this year on Showtime.

Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully

Gillian is a champ, having appeared in all but four episodes of The X-Files. Want to feel old? She was only 24-years-old when she landed the role.

After the show ended, she went on to star in the Irish drama The Mighty Celt, and also appeared on 14 episodes of the TV miniseries Bleak House. In 2007, she starred in a scary crime film called Closure, and had a role in the film How To Lose Friends & Alienate People the next year.

Gillian stuck to the TV miniseries for awhile, by appearing in The Crimson Petaland The White and Great Expectations in 2011. She went back to appearing on a TV series last year by playing Stella Gibson on a few episodes of The Fall, and Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier for a few episodes of Hannibal.

This year, Gillian looked amazing while posing for the Fishlove campaign, which is against destructive fishing practices. She’s always been vocal about her support for animal rights, and is an active member of PETA. That’s not the only organization she supports – she’s also a member of the board of directors for Artists for a New South Africa and a campaigner for ACTSA: Action for Southern Africa. She has also been active in the LGBT community, and told Out magazine in 2012 that she had a relationship with a girl in high school.

Her oldest daughter, Piper, is currently 18. And she’s the only 18-year-old who can say that an episode of The X-Files was named after her. (“Piper Maru”, which aired in 1996)

Robert Patrick as John Doggett

When Doggett took over for Mulder once he was abducted, he definitely made it tough for long-term fans to adapt. Chris Carter stated that he was never meant to replace Mulder – after all, with Scully becoming a believer in the paranormal after his absence, Doggett was the perfect character to shake things up a bit and change the dynamic of the show.

Robert Patrick didn’t leave the sci-fi world after the show was cancelled. In fact, in the early 90’s he appeared on The Outer Limits and later made a guest appearance in the pilot episodes for Sci-Fi Channel’s original series Stargate Atlantis, “Rising”, because it reunited him with his Outer Limits crew.

In 2005, Robert took on the role as Ray Cash in the film Walk The Line, and a year later he played Colonel Chandler Johnson in the film Flags of Our Fathers. 2007 brought him the role of Jack Aarons in the family movie Bridge to Terabithia. Afterward, he returned to TV with a bang. Not only did he appear in The Unit throughout the series’ run, but he was in a few episodes of NCIS, Psych, Chuck, Burn Notice, and Big Love. More recently, he was in the TV show Last Resort playing Master Chief Joseph Prosser, and if you’re a fan of True Blood, you probably saw him pop up as Jackson Herveaux this past year.

Robert also devotes some time to LoveRide, which is a charity motorcycle race held in California. And yes – in case you were wondering, he’s the older brother to the lead singer of the band Filter. His family just has talent written all over it.

Mitch Pileggi as Walter Skinner

Skinner starts off as Mulder and Scully’s direct supervisor, eventually becoming a friend. Mitch’s career after the show truly blossomed, as he found a lot of TV success on shows such as 2004’s The Mountain, 2006’s Day Break, and a role as Colonel Steven Caldwell in Stargate: Atlantis. In 2009 he had a story arc as Dan Burroughs on the show Medium, and went on to play Samuel Campbell on a few episodes of Supernatural. Fans of Grey’s Anatomy might also recognize him as Larry Jennings, who made appearances throughout the show’s run.

The recent years have been extremely kind to Mitch. He can be seen playing Ernest Darby on Sons of Anarchy as well as Harris Ryland on the current revamp of the show Dallas.

In 2012, he did a brief interview with Alison Groves through YouTube, which you can see here:

Annabeth Gish as Monica Reyes

Annabeth definitely got one lasting memory from her time on The X-Files – she married a stuntman on the show named Wade Allen, and had two sons, named Cash and Enzo.

Right after ending The X-Files, Annabeth got a role as Elizabeth Bartlet Westin on The West Wing. Afterward, she tried TV movies, playing Mary Jackson in Desperation, and Lydia in Candles on Bay Street. Her next big TV role was playing Eileen Caffee on the show Brotherhood, which ended after two seasons in 2008 despite having a strong fanbase.

This year, she appeared in an episode of Parks & Recreation playing Ben’s sister, and has a leading role on the murder mystery show The Bridge.

William B. Davis as The Smoking Man

Portraying The Smoking Man was difficult for William, who quit smoking in the 1970’s. He smoked herbal cigarettes on the show, in fear that he’d become addicted to tobacco again during filming. In fact, William used his character as an opportunity to raise awareness – he’s been working with the Canadian Cancer Society to help combat smoking.

William did a lot of voice-over work before taking on the role of Dr. Carlisle Wainwright on the show Robson Arms in 2005. After that ended, he had one episode appearance on Stargate SG-1 and Supernatural.

In 2012, he starred as Older Alec Sadler on the TV series Continuum, and followed that up with a TV movie called Stonados.

Now, let’s talk about those Lone Gunmen.

Tom Braidwood as Melvin Frohike

As one of the Lone Gunmen, Melvin was essential to the series. Tom, however, seems more comfortable behind the scenes. He served double duty as an assistant director on the show from seasons one through five, and went on to be the assistant director on the show Millenium.

Tom is also a producer, and most recently worked on Da Vinci’s Inquest until 2000, and the short Serum 1831 in 2009.

Bruce Harwood as John Byers

Bruce followed a few of his cast members onto The Lone Gunmen spin-off, but found some other success with bit parts on other series – he was on Stephen King’s Dead Zone for an episode in 2005 and played Wallace on an episode of Da Vinci’s City Hall before being featured as a Scientist in the film The Last Mimzy, which starred Rainn Wilson and Joely Richardson.

His last credit to date was on the show Emily Owens M.D., where he played an anesthesiologist. Currently 50-years-old, Bruce is still living in Canada with his wife Heather, and is a founding member of the Vancouver Summer Shakespeare festival called Bard on the Beach.

Dean Haglund as Richard Langly

Another Canadian member of the Lone Gunmen, Dean was on a 2010 episode of Bones as Blaine Miller before keeping with his sci-fi theme (haven’t they all?) by playing Jack Spano in the film Atlantis Down. He currently has two films slated for release this year – Rough Hustle, where he plays Flip, and The Lady Killers, where he plays Paul Lewis.

Karen Belz was born and raised in New Jersey, and is currently living in Lancaster, PA. She gets teased about both locations often, despite never getting a tan or mingling with the Amish. She enjoys writing, sketch comedy shows, and sugar free Red Bull. She has also been told that she can create a killer haiku. You can find her on twitter, at @kittensonvespas

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1249768752 Ian Cook

Hmmm, my favorite episode, and the one that got me hooked on the show was the one where they are at a freak show, “Humbug”.

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